U.S. patent application number 14/383663 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-05 for method and device for the rigid connection of two thin elements.
The applicant listed for this patent is MBDA FRANCE. Invention is credited to Xavier Bertrand, Francois Durand, Benoit Leclercq, Javier Sistac-Meler.
Application Number | 20150034637 14/383663 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46889089 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150034637 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Durand; Francois ; et
al. |
February 5, 2015 |
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE RIGID CONNECTION OF TWO THIN ELEMENTS
Abstract
According to the present invention, the device comprises: a
flange having an at least approximately trapezoidal tapered
section; a counter-flange having a shape complementary to that of
said flange (1); and clamping means for clamping said flange and
said counter-flange one in the direction of the other, interposing
the edges of said elements shaped at least partially in the shape
of said counter-flange.
Inventors: |
Durand; Francois; (Magny les
Hameaux, FR) ; Bertrand; Xavier; (Montigny-Le
Bretonneux, FR) ; Sistac-Meler; Javier; (Plaisir,
FR) ; Leclercq; Benoit; (Montigny-Le Bretonneux,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MBDA FRANCE |
Paris |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
46889089 |
Appl. No.: |
14/383663 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
March 18, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR2013/000074 |
371 Date: |
September 8, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/4.21 ;
29/428; 29/700 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 11/22 20130101;
F16B 5/0072 20130101; Y10T 29/53 20150115; B65D 90/08 20130101;
F16B 5/0664 20130101; Y10T 29/49826 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/4.21 ;
29/428; 29/700 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/34 20060101
B65D006/34 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 20, 2012 |
FR |
12/00835 |
Claims
1. Method for rigid connection, via opposing edges thereof, of two
thin element, the method comprising: moving a flange and a
counter-flange closer toward each other to interpose formed edges
of two thin elements between a cavity of the flange and a
protrusion of the counter-flange, wherein the flange cavity has a
flared cross-section shape which is at least approximately
trapezoidal, the counter-flange protrusion has a convergent shape
which is at least approximately trapezoidal and complements the
flange cavity flared cross-section shape, and the edges of the two
thin elements are at least partially formed to the convergent
cross-section shape of the protrusion of the counter-flange; and
claimping the flange and the counter-flange in the direction of
each other so that they press between them the formed edges of the
two thin elements; and wherein a depth of the cavity of the flange
and a thickness of the formed edges of the two thin elements are
selected so that, at the end of clamping of the flange and the
counter-flange, there is a gap between a base of the cavity and the
formed edges.
2. A Device comprising: a flange which has a cavity having a flared
cross-section shape which is at least approximately trapezoidal; a
counter-flange which has a protrusion which has a convergent
cross-section which is at least approximately trapezoidal and which
has a shape which complements the shape of the cavity of the
flange; and clamping means for clamping the flange and the
counter-flange in a direction toward each other so that they press,
between the cavity of the flange and the protrusion of the
counter-flange, formed edges of two thin elements which are at
least partially formed to the shape of the protrusion of the
counter-flange.
3. The Device according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion of the
counter-flange further comprises: an abutment face at a side of a
small base of the convergent, at least approximately trapezoidal
cross-section shape.
4. The Device according to claim 2, wherein the counter-flange is
an integral portion of the edge of one of the two thin
elements.
5. The Device according to claim 2, wherein the clamping means are
screws which are supported on the counter-flange and screwed into
the flange.
6. The Device according to claim 2, wherein the clamping means are
screws which are supported on the flange and screwed into the
counter-flange.
7. The Device according to claim 5, wherein the screws comprise
heads which are accommodated in recesses formed on the flange by
which they are supported.
8. The Device according to claim 4, wherein the counter-flange
which is an integral portion of the edge of one of the two thin
elements and comprises a partial housing for the flange.
9. A Container, comprising: at least two cylindrical portions which
are assembled end-to-end; wherein the at least two cylindrical
portions comprise a flange which has a cavity having a flared
cross-section shape which is at least approximately trapezoidal,
and a counter-flange which has a protrusion which has a convergent
cross-section which is at least approximately trapezoidal and which
has a shape which complements the shape of the cavity of the
flange; and wherein the at least two cylindrical portions are
assembled end-to-end by clamping the flange and the counter-flange
in a direction toward each other so that they press, between the
cavity of the flange and the protrusion of the counter-flange,
formed edges of two thin elements which are at least partially
formed to the shape of the protrusion of the counter-flange.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a device for
the rigid connection, via the opposing edges thereof, of two thin
elements which are, for example, planar or cylindrical.
[0002] Although not exclusively, the present invention is most
particularly appropriate for use with thin elements, of which at
least one is produced from a composite fibre/resin material.
[0003] In order to assemble in a rigid manner, via the edges
thereof, thin elements of composite fibre/resin material, it is
known to provide the edges with flanges by means of adhesive
bonding or by means of machining. In the first instance, the
adhesive constitutes a weak point of the assembly whilst, in the
second instance, the machining brings about the sectioning of
fibres of the composite material and therefore also local weakening
of the assembly.
[0004] An object of the present invention is to overcome these
disadvantages.
[0005] To this end, according to the invention, the method for the
rigid connection, via the opposing edges thereof, of two thin
elements, which are, for example, planar or cylindrical, is
remarkable in that:
[0006] a flange is prepared which has a cavity having a flared
cross-section which is at least approximately trapezoidal;
[0007] a counter-flange is prepared which has a protrusion which
has a convergent cross-section which is at least approximately
trapezoidal and which has a shape which complements that of the
cavity of the flange;
[0008] the edges of the thin elements are at least partially formed
to the shape of the protrusion of the counter-flange;
[0009] the flange and the counter-flange are moved closer to each
other with the formed edges being interposed between the cavity of
the flange and the protrusion of the counter-flange; and
[0010] the flange and the counter-flange are clamped in the
direction of each other so that they press between them the formed
edges of the elements, the depth of the cavity of the flange and
the thickness of the edges of the elements being selected so that,
at the end of clamping of the flange and the counter-flange, there
is a gap between the base of the cavity of the flange and the edges
of the elements.
[0011] In this manner, owing to the present invention, it is
possible to assemble together in a rigid manner two thin elements,
simply by clamping the opposing edges thereof which have been
previously formed, without any weakening adhesive bonding or
machining operation. Furthermore, it is ensured that the clamping
is optimal, without being limited by any abutment contact between
the edges of the elements and the base of the cavity of the
flange.
[0012] The present invention further relates to a device for the
rigid connection, via the opposing edges thereof, of two thin
elements which may be planar or cylindrical, which is remarkable in
that it comprises:
[0013] a flange which has a cavity having a flared cross-section
which is at least approximately trapezoidal;
[0014] a counter-flange which has a protrusion which has a
convergent cross-section which is at least approximately
trapezoidal and which has a shape which complements that of the
cavity of the flange; and
[0015] clamping means for clamping the flange and the
counter-flange in the direction of each other so that they can
press, between the cavity of the flange and the protrusion of the
counter-flange, the edges of the elements which are at least
partially formed to the shape of the protrusion of the
counter-flange.
[0016] Preferably, the protrusion of the counter-flange comprises
an abutment face at the side of the small base of the convergent,
at least approximately trapezoidal cross-section. In this manner,
at least one of the formed edges can abut the abutment face in
order to strengthen the connection and to prevent any tilting of
one of the elements relative to the other.
[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the
counter-flange is an integral portion of the edge of one of the
elements.
[0018] Advantageously, the clamping means are screws which are
either supported on the counter-flange and screwed into the flange,
or are supported on the flange and screwed into the
counter-flange.
[0019] The screws may comprise heads which are accommodated in
recesses which are formed in the counter-flange or the flange,
respectively, and on which the heads are supported.
[0020] When the counter-flange is an integral portion of the edge
of one of the elements, it may comprise a partial housing for the
flange.
[0021] A particularly advantageous implementation of the present
invention is the end-to-end assembly of two cylindrical portions of
a container, the container portions being able to be produced from
a composite fibre/resin material.
[0022] The Figures of the appended drawings will provide a good
understanding of how the invention can be produced. In these
Figures, identical reference numerals refer to elements which are
similar.
[0023] FIGS. 1 to 4 are schematic cross-sections of four
embodiments of the present invention, respectively.
[0024] Each of these four embodiments I to IV comprises:
[0025] a flange 1 which has a cavity 2 having a flared trapezoidal
cross-section with a base 2A,
[0026] a counter-flange 3 which has a protrusion 4 which has a
convergent trapezoidal cross-section and which has a shape which
complements that of the cavity 2 of the flange 1, the protrusion 4
having a small base 4A, and
[0027] clamping means, for example, screws 5 for clamping the
flange 1 and the counter-flange 3 in the direction of each
other.
[0028] Furthermore, each of the four embodiments I to IV is
intended to assemble in a rigid manner two thin elements 6 and 7
which are, for example, planar or cylindrical, via the opposing
formed edges 6A and 7A thereof. In a specific embodiment of the
invention, the elements 6 and 7 are cylindrical portions of a
container which are produced, for example, from a composite
fibre/resin material.
[0029] In the embodiments I, II and III, the head 5A of the screws
5 is accommodated in a recess 8 of the counter-flange 3 and the
screws 5 are supported on the counter-flange 3 and are screwed into
the flange 1. In the embodiment IV, however, the head 5A of the
screws 5 is accommodated in a recess 9 of the flange 1 and the
screws 5 are supported on the flange 1 and are screwed into the
counter-flange 3.
[0030] The edges 6A and 7A of the embodiment I of FIG. 1 are formed
in an identical manner, each of them comprising an oblique portion
6A1, 7A1 having the same shape as the oblique edges of the
protrusion 4, and a portion 6A2, 7A2 corresponding to the base 4A
of the protrusion 4. In this manner, when the opposing edges 6A and
7A are arranged between the flange 1 and the counter-flange 3, the
oblique portions 6A1, 7A1 thereof may be in contact with the
oblique portions of the flange 1 and the counter-flange 3, whilst
the portions 6A2, 7A2 thereof may be in contact with the base 4A.
After the screws 5 have been positioned and screwed, the edges 6A
and 7A are assembled together in a rigid manner by means of
clamping between the flange 1 and the counter-flange 3. So that
this clamping can be optimal, the depth of the cavity of the flange
1 and the thickness of the edges 6 and 7 are such that, at the end
of the clamping operation, there is a gap 10 between the base 2A of
the cavity 2 of the flange 1 and the portions 6A2, 7A2 of the edges
6A and 7A. This situation of optimal clamping is what is
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0031] In the production variant II of FIG. 2, the edge 7A of the
element 7 is formed to correspond to the entire shape of the
protrusion 4 of the counter-flange 3 and the edge 6A of the element
6 has a shape which is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1, but
it is applied to the edge 7A, instead of being applied directly to
the counter-flange 3. In this instance again, at the end of
clamping using the screws 5 (situation illustrated in FIG. 2),
there is a gap 10 between the base 2A of the cavity 2 and the edges
6A.
[0032] The embodiment III of FIG. 3 is similar to the embodiment I
of FIG. 1, with the exception that the counter-flange 3 is an
integral portion of the edge 7A of the element 7. Consequently, in
this embodiment, the base 4A is a part of the element 7 and only
the edge 6A of the element 6 presses thereon.
[0033] In the same manner, in the embodiment IV of FIG. 4, the
counter-flange 3 is an integral portion of the edge 7A of the
element 7. Furthermore, the flange 1 is accommodated in a partial
recess 11 of the edge 7A. This results in a thinning of the edge
and the formation of a hollow portion at the side of the edge 6A of
the element 6, which hollow portion can be closed by means of a
filling 12.
[0034] Of course, although it has not been illustrated in the
drawings, sealing joints (of any type) may be arranged, anywhere it
is necessary, between the flange 5, the counter-flange 3, the
screws 5 and the formed edges 6A and 7A.
* * * * *